Aeroplane.



P. SCHMITT.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. z2, 1909.

Patented Augz m, 1911.

5 SHBETS- SHEET 1.

FIGJ,

P. SCHMITT.

ABROPLANE.

APPLmATIoNHLED SEPT. 22, 11109'.

5 SHEETE-SHEBT 2.

F I G 2 SCHMITT.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION .FILED SEPTA 2z, mu.

x i 1,000,653?. Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

vwel@ P. SCHMITT.

AERGPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. zz, 1909.

E SHEETE-BHEET 5.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

PAUL SCHMITT, OF PARIS, FRALUSIIL Y f .AEaorLANE To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I VPAUL SoHMirr,'e1i gineer, citizen ofthe :French Republic, residing at 18 Rue dEdinbourg, Paris, France,

have invented new 'and useful Improve ments in and Rel-ating to Aeroplanes, which improvements are fully set forth in the fol lowing specification.

This invention'relates to an aeroplane in which means are provided forinsuring longitudinal stability and'guiding in thev vertical direction,l consisting 'of a device which always keeps the center Vof gravity of the system .coincident vertically with the 15 center of pressure whatever may be 4the inci- 'I 4centerrof gravity: is no longer vertically under the center of pressure, the equilibrium 3Q of the aeroplane is destroyed and may cause it to fall.

.In carrying out this invent-ion, the motor, the propellers, the controlling apparatus, the ground wheels, the aeronaut and passengers, if any,A in fact the whole of the heavy parts of the machine, are carried on afranie pi-voted Within the aeroplane, the supporting planes being negligible in weight compared with the weight of thefraine.

The inventionwill be better understood by reference to -the' accompanying drawings, illustrating one cnil'iodinient of the inventive idea, and in which vFigure 1 is a side view illustrating diagrainniaticallyan aeroplane provided with planes; Fig. 2 is aneleva tion, lfig. 'a p an', and Ilig-f-'a side view of the apparatus; Fig. -5 is a side yview on a larger scale; Figf is a side View similar to F 5, butillustrating the relative arranger two supportin r nient of' the parts when 4the supporting planes have been shifted toganangle 'of 10 i degrees; and Fig. 7 1s a perspective view,

illustratingVt-l'ie means by which movement l in a horizontal'plane is effected.

lieferung to Fig. l, A` B- and C D indi vIf lthe aeronaut varies the in `spediamoofLeitersvlwffmtf Patented Aug.15,1a11. Application tiled September 22, 1909. Serial 110.518,89'9. 'l

'cate two supporting planes ofrequal arca arranged in4 a horizontal posit-ion (that. is to say, at zero incidence, the' line of llight heing assumed to be horizontal). The position of the center of pressure heilig given by the formula,

(l=(0.2t0.3 sin. X) L in which l the distance from the front edge Where lies the center' of pressure l for center of pressure for the incidence zero .will thus be at P half way between the. two planes A B and C D and at .one fifth of the depth A B, that is to say-at a distance 1 E, equal to -ferent velocities, according to the load on it,

these two liinitstl'icre is 'a corresponding new [ipsition of the center of'prcssurc on the line P parallel .to the two supporting planes and at equal distance from each of them. The;` formula: y 4 g zweren sin. 180)' L.

position l of the'ccntcr of pressure for the' incidence 18 to. be determined.

twcgpQtl-ie-rtvvsupporting surfaces, on the i'liie G G parallel to the surfaces and inA the vertical plane, in order that the aeroplane an angle of incidence of 18 to t-he lineof flight, thecenter of gravity vmust be at G so that G I lies obliquely tothe line, l G, meeting it again atV and yforn'iing V 1" being the vertical lineof the-centerV beforeV the position of the center of p'ressure for the incidence of 9 be determined rives the distance l which enablesfthe D 7 -with'it anan'gle of 18" the straight line of pressure for the incidence 18..NowK-ifasf the incidence :ein the plane of depth L; the

as. well as for raising it, lie lctwecii zero and 18, to each .angle comprised between- I Now if the propulsion `i'ianierepfres'titfel by its center *of /gravity'lbc displacedbeniay be equilibrated when the surfaces foi-iu be found that P P1 is approximately equal to .if-.i111

It P, `VJL makes an agle of 9" with P Gr', its

intersection with Gr G' will give the new position for the center of gravity G1. The triangles V G G and V1; G G1, being solved and the lengths G Gr1 and G G1 being given it will be Vfound that G G Gr G1=-2- approximately.

If the lincidences be made to vary from degree to degree, the same operations being effected in eachcasc, it- Will be found thattlie displacements of the centers of lgravity and of ressiire on the straightlines G G and P are respectively proportional to the angles described, that isto say, /the center of gravity always being vertical to the center of pressure, if for an angle ai, 1 be the path through which the center of gravity should go'on Gr G infor-der to satisfy the condition of equilibrium, the path travcrsedfor an angle me willbe nl.

It is necessary now to find the radius of a circle in which the are G.Gr' snbteni'ls. an angle of 1 8" at the center. By drawing ir O Gr O to'meet the vvertical line (lr1 0- being the mid .point of GIG- andso as to make theangle G vO G eqnalt'o 180,. the

length R-,eqnal to O Gx, is found.

Supposing that the propulsion traine placed at Gl. is pivoted' aty the point O and describes -an arc of'9o in the suitablefilireev tion. its center of gravity can be brought to thepointg. ln this'position the propeller is placed horizontally on the frame.,

aeroplane be acted on by suitable medianical vsystem of control it ii'nll be possihleto cause the 'aeroplane to pivot around an'axis V'that for' all -the' incidences c on'iprised. vbe.-

' 'its longitudinal'stability without` recourse to 'placed atOggtli'eccnter of gravity will pass thiioiuthfthe are 'G l no account beine.

. b i y n taken of the nregl-igililc differences between this are andits tangentG G it will be secu tween ():and'18-, thc center ofgravity will always be vertical to the center of pressure,

the line of propulsion remaining' horizontal in all cases; In this way an aeroplane 'is obtained which has all the qualities tor in.- suring its guidance in the vertical planeand an elevator or t0 a tail.

'llie controlling device imiyeviclently 'be able way 'as described b clow'ii'ith reference from-these figures iwhich relate to abiplane,

It folloii's' that 'if at the saine time the .frame and the the supporting planesl consis'tlof ltwo par! allel surfaces 1,-1 of canvas stretched overI the upper and lower faces of a rectangular rismatic 'frame the parts of which vare Joined together by parallel uprights 2, 2 joined by tension Wires 3. 'The Whole of this frame forms a rectangular parallel @piped which can pivot around a shaft' 4 which rims exactl through the 'point O des" termined as has een. stated in relation to the diagrammatic Fig. l and which is p erpendicular te the plane of vertical sym# metry ofthe aero lane. The whole-support' ing device thus ormed is mounted onthis shaft 4 by means of bearing blocks arranged onupriglits 6 madeof wood or any other suitable material; these upriglits 6am firmly vfixed to the sup orting device and pass froinone plane to t e other, being Supported in central ribs inthe sup ort-ing' On vthe shaft 4 issuspen ed the planes. frame carrying the motor, the propellefs,

the controllin device the asseno'ers seats g 1 p e Y 7 in a Word all which does not form a supf porting surface in the aero lane. This construction is me it three triangula 9, '7 ,:8,,`9 'Z/Q 1;, 9 (Fig. 7) firmly eonnected 1by ,lsuita'b es cross pieces and directly siiiipontlrig` tliei motor and 'the controlling appai'atus The triangles 7,-8. 9, Av7, 89,

'90 ame formed-by i rangements ofitubes 7, '8,

ete., are rigidly tixed at 10, 10",4 10 on the i shatt' l iihiclnassists intheir-cross connec tion. At l1 in the ends of the shaft i other ,triangular frames are also4 rigidly fixed.

these servingto support "the shafts 12 cit-rfraines.3 9, T', S', 9. that the propelle-rs .and the .motor are fixed rying the propeller-s, the'sefraines being con, net-ted aty 13 and 13', to the triangular lt will thus' be seenin a rigid frame fixed to the sli'aft 4 Vto J which they are suspended .iyhile the system ot supporting planes can pivot freely around this shaft 4. It' iviil` 'thus be v,seen thatthe incidence of the supporting' planes can modified as' desired in relation to the .axis

` lint which these variations of'incli-- natioi'ican-- be. controlled has new to be defv scribed. On the middle triangular system Vl-n. Sl/

sof a hand wheel 15 bearing the pinion 17 mounted 011-' the end of thesciew threaded sha-ft. 4On to this shaft a'nnt 18 :is screwed. This nntis furnished with pins' on .which are mountedthe ends'of the bars 19 which are pivot-ally connected at .20v with the l'foot ofthe-centra rear nprights 2 which connect the supporting planes. It ivill be readily seen from this that every movement of the nut 18 on the screwthreadedshaft H3143@ n will-:correspond to `aimovement of thepoints ;.20,f,the result `of which will be to cause the lwhole su. portin frame to turn around the V. lfiirisfof At e sha t 4' and which will modify y the; inclination Aofthe lanes with relation to the axisofthe propel er shafts. 1 1 'If the length and the position of the screw threaded shaft have been determined in acto an angle of 18 for the extreme positions of tlieuprights G, it will be easily seen that by' .turning` a hand wheel the aeronaut can piace `the supporting planes in relation to the axis of the propelling shaft, at any intoljination comprised between zero and 18 degrecs.

If with reference to Fig. l the distance from. the `point Gr to the center of gravity i .of the system have a length equal to R `and if the movement of the nut on the screwv4threaded shaft leads to a displacement ofthe center o fgravity; having the value of the length ofthe are of 18o, then the center of -V gravity willalways remain vertically under `the center 'ofpressure if care has been taken to place this center of' gravity, for the positionin Fig. 5, verticallyunder the'eenter of fpressure.

It will be observed that in this method of realizing the means indicated .,already as aywhole in relation' to Fig'. l, the l `employment of a screw-threaded shaft assures the control lbeing irreversible, which is 4essential in a: controlled equilibrated device in .which it is of importance that the aeronaut may be able to modify at will the incidcnce of the planes without its being possible for the constant connection between'the center offgravityand the center of pressure when displaced in relation to -a vertical line common to both to be destroyed at any time.

The whole construction,supportingplanes front corners of. the supporting planes serve as: hinges forftwo vertical planes tapering rearward. 4The two lower rear corners are joined together 4by a cord 23 passing over suitably arranged pulleys and carrying in the middle a handle 24 or the like. When the aeroplane is' started, the air'in its pasair'resistance on that si sage between the two planes willI keep the rear ends of the planes firmly pressed against the back uprights. In order to etiect a change of direction in the horizontal plane it is only necessary to pull the rope so as to move one of the vertical planesffrom its normal position. This fplaneincreases the e so that there is a slackening in the speed of this side of the aeroplane, while the other, increasing in s eed', will cause the ap 'iaratus-to turn. If t e rope be released, tie pressure of the air bringing the vertical lane to its first position, the aeroplane will resume a rectilineal direction.

With regard to the means for launching, with the apparatus justdescribed', any of `the systems at present in use, Such as ground Wheels, rails and pylon, etc. may be emplgyld.

at I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is z- 1. In an aeroplane, a supportin surface, a load-carrying device pivoted to t e framework of the aeroplane, and means for varying the angle of incidence of the supporting surface and moving said load-carrying device to maintain the centers of pressure and gravity ofthe aeroplane in the same vertical plane.

2. In an aeroplane, a supportin surface, a load-carrying device -pivoted to t e framework of the aeroplane, and means for varying theangle of incidence of the supportin surface and simultaneously moving sai load-carrying device to maintain the centers of pressure and l the same venticafplane.A y

3. In an alero lane, a supporting surface, aload-carrying device pivoted to the framework of the aeroplane, .and a common means forvarying the angle of incidence 4of the supporting surface and Vsimultaneously moving said loadcarrying device t'o maintain the centers of pressure and gravity of the aeroplane in the same vertical plane.

l 4. In 'an aeroplane, a supportin surface, a load-carrying device pivoted to t e framework of the aeroplane, and means operated by the aeronaut,for varying the 'angle `of incidence of the supporting surface and moving said load-carrying -device to maini tain the centers of pressure'and gravity of the aeroplane in the same vertical plane.

5. In an aeroplane, a supportin surface, a load-carrying device pivoted to t e framework of the aeroplane, and a common means operated by the aeronaut for varying the angle of incidence of the supporting surface and movingY said load-carrying device to y maintain the centers of pressure and gravity of the' aeroplane in the same vertical plane. 6. In anv aeroplane, a supporting surface, a load-carrying device pivoted to the framework of the aeroplane, and a common means ravity of the aeroplane in operated-by the aeronaut for varying the angle of incidence of the plane and simulta worlr for varying the angle of incidence ofv the planes and moving saidload-carrying device to maintain the centers of pressure and glravity in the same-vertical plane.

8. n an aeroplane, a supportm surface, a load-carrying devicevpivoted to t e framework of the aeroplane, and. connections between said load-carrying device and framework for simultaneously varying the 'angle of incidence of the surface and moving said loadcarrying device to maintain-the centers of pressure and plane.

91 In an aeroplane, a plurality of supporting surfaces, a load-carrying-devic plvoted to thfe' framework, 'a propeller, bearings therefor connected to said load-carrying device,` and means for modifying the inclination ofthe supporting surfaces wit-h relation to the axis of the propeller shaft and moving vsaid load-carrying device to maintain the centers of pressure and gravity in the same vertical plane.

10. In an aeroplane, a plurality of'sup` porting surfaces, a load-carrying device'pivoted to the framework, a. propeller, bearlngs therefor connected to' saldI supporting device, and means for inodifyingthe inclina tion of the supporting surfaces with relation to the axis of the propeller. shaft and simu'ltaneously moving saidcload-carrying device gravity in the same vertical.

scribing witnesses.

to maintain the centers of` pressure and gravit in the same vertical plane.

11. n an aeroplane, a plurality ofv supporting surfaes,a load-carryin device pivoted to the framework, a propel er, bearlngs therefor connected to said load-carrying device, and common means operated by the aeronaut for modifying the inclination of the'su porting surfaces with relation to. the axis oi) the propeller shaft and moving said load-carrying device to maintain the centers of pressure and gravity in the same vertical plane.

12. In" an` aeroplane, a plurality'of supporting surfaces, a load-carryin device pivoted to the framework, a' ropel er, bearings therefor connected toI saidpload-carrying de.

vice, and commonmeans operated by they aeronant for modifying the inclination of the supporting surfaces with relation to the axis of the propeller shaft, and simultaneously moving said load-carrying device to maintain the centers of pressure' and gravity in the same vertical plane.'y

13. In an aeroplane a pluralit of sup# porting surfaces, aloa ecarrying evice pivot-ed to the framework, and a nut and screw connection between said'loadcarrying device and the ,framework operative to simultaneously vary thean le of incidence of the surfaces and move said load-carrying device to maintain the centers of pressure and gravity in the samevertical plane.

Intestimony whereof I have signed this specification in the PAUL SCHMITT. Witnesses: Y

H. C. Coxn, DOUM` CAsAnoNGA.

presence of two sub.- 

